surf
English meaning: Surf
Definition
Waves that break on an ocean shoreline.
Example
“The roar of the surf could be heard from the cliff top.”
Another example: “He likes to surf the web for hours every evening.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Neutral; as a noun, breaking waves near the shore; as a verb, to ride waves ('surf the waves') or, by extension, to browse ('surf the internet', 'channel-surf'). Common in sport, leisure and internet contexts.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
Of uncertain origin, possibly from obsolete 'suff' (the sound of the sea) or from Indian 'suff', recorded from the 17th century.
Synonyms
- breaker
- windsurf
- channel-surf
- breakers
Related Words
Common Collocations
- surf the waves
- surf the internet
- surf the web
- crashing surf
- catch the surf
Word Forms
surf (n); surf (v); surfed; surfing; surfer (n)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
CC-licensed · free to useVideo
Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B